FOOTBALL New FAI HQ @ Abbotstown

The National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA) is proud to announce the opening of the new FAI Headquarters at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown.

The new FAI Headquarters were officially opened earlier today, Wednesday, 5th December, by the Minister of Arts, Sport and Tourism, Seamus Brennan TD, with UEFA President Michel Platini.
This is the first development undertaken by NSCDA, and was completed on time and within budget. The project involved the refurbishment of the former State Laboratory. The FAI is the first National Governing Body to take up residence in the National Sports Campus, and will be joined in 2008 by the Irish Institute of Sport. It is envisaged that the National Sports Campus will eventually be home to as many National Governing Bodies of Sport as possible.

Speaking today at the official opening Dan Flinter, Chairman of the NSCDA said ‘The Authority warmly welcomes the FAI and all its affiliates to their new office accommodation at the National Sports Campus. They are our first tenants here in Abbotstown, and we look forward to more sporting organisations joining us in the very near future. The Headquarters of the Irish Institute of Sport is due to be finished in 2008, and then we will see the Campus begin to take shape’

Minister of Arts, Sport and Tourism, Seamus Brennan TD said “We are delighted to see the first tenants of the National Sports Campus take residence. The Authority is charged with the delivery of a sports campus of which we all can be proud and which will benefit the family of Irish Sport. The relocation of the FAI is the first step towards achieving our vision of a centre of excellence for sports at Abbotstown.”

Formally known as Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd,  the new Authority was established on the 1st January 2007 under the powers conferred by the Minister of Arts Sport and Tourism by the National Sports Campus Development Authority Act 2006.

The Authority’s role is one of overseeing, planning and developing a sports campus at Abbotstown and providing modern, well equipped and well managed sporting facilities for the benefit of sport and sportsmen and women.

The new Authority is also has responsibility for the operation of the National Aquatic Centre, which is the first element of the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown.

Next year the Authority will be submitting planning applications for the rest of the Campus, which will consist of:

• A National Field Sports Training Centre catering for rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey
  
• A National Indoor Training Centre which will provide world class training facilities for over 20 National Governing Bodies of Sport
• A Sports Science and Medical Centre, an Accommodation Block and facilities for the local community

For further information: Mلire Scully, @ WHPR on 01 – 6690030 or maire.scully@ogilvy.com